EXCLUSIVE: Cianci Weighs in on Providence Mayoral Race

Former Providence Mayor Vincent `Buddy’ Cianci Jr. was feeling good Tuesday after being released from Miriam Hospital. Good enough, in fact, to quickly weigh in on the 2014 Providence Mayoral race.

"There're a lot of apathy. Not a lot of well-known faces. Not much activity."

He praised the staff at Miriam, where he received treatment for rectal cancer, and is optimistic about his recovery through chemotherapy over the next three months. Cianci, 73, holds the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. drive time slot on 630 WPRO. He is slated to be back behind the microphone Monday. The former mayor has been mulling another run this year, but hasn't announced a decision.

Campaign plans speculated

Cianci, who has asked the media to respect his privacy while he recovers, said there would be time discuss the election in the future. His patience, however, won't stop local political experts from speculating on the impact of another Cianci campaign. Among them is former Mayor Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., who has been loud and clear about his support for a possible Cianci campaign.

"With Mayor Taveras leaving, and I think he's done some great things, I think people in Providence are looking for somebody who's going to get something done. Creating jobs, economic development, the changing skyline, the tax base. I think people are tired of listening to a lot of talk and want someone who gets things done," Paolino said.

Paolino said he doesn't know if Cianci will run again. And he took care to say that he respects the other candidates. He called City Council President Michael A. Solomon one of the best council presidents the city has ever had.

"He knows how to do things. But Buddy is on a whole different level."

An open book

Cianci has a colorful past. While some people may see a felony conviction as a drawback, Paolino was quick to point that the mayor is an open book.

"There's nothing anybody can tell you that you don't know about Buddy Cianci. His past, his private life, now his health … Everybody knows everything about him. He has lived it on the front page of the newspaper and electronic media. He's probably the most vetted candidate we'll ever have run for office."

M. Charles Bakst disagrees

Former Providence Journal Political Columnist M. Charles Bakst disagrees. (Bakst began the conversation by stating he supports Democratic Candidate Brett Smiley for mayor.)

"Health wise, I wish him well. I hope this heightens the public awareness of cancer and saves some lives. Politically, I'm not a fan of his. I believe people are tired of him."

Bakst disagrees with Cianci's politics – and believes the city would not reelect Cianci – but he agree's with the former mayor's assertion that there's little excitement in the race. A gubernatorial race will nearly always overshadow a city mayoral race. Especially when there are no big names in contention for that office.

"It's absolutely being overshadowed by the race for governor. Angel Taveras, if he's elected, would be the first Latino governor. Gina Raimondo would be the first woman governor. Allan Fung would be the first Asian governor. And Clay Pell is one of the more unusual candidates."

While Bakst made a point of saying he'd "be against Cianci for sure," he said Cianci's name alone would fire up the public's current apathy in the mayoral race.

A new Providence

It's important to note that the city Cianci ran for more than 21 years has changed a lot since he left Providence City Hall in 2002. Rhode Island's Hispanic population has grown from 90,820 in 2000 to 130,655 in 2010. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, Rhode Island is now the 12th most Hispanic state in the country. An estimated 13 percent of Rhode Island residents are Hispanic. The Hispanic population in Providence County is 19 percent.

According to former Rhode Island Attorney General and political commentator Arlene Violet, this is not the Providence that Cianci once ruled.

"Because of the changing demographics, former Mayor Cianci would only have a shot if Mayor Tavares and the other Hispanic office holders backed him," Violet said.

Thomas A. "Tad" Devine, a Block Island resident who was senior adviser in Al Gore's 2000 and John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaigns, wouldn't speak directly to the Providence mayoral race. He spends most of his time in D.C. and believes the truth about a possible Cianci bid could be found by polling the electorate. He did say, however, that Cianci's recent cancer announcement could be a factor.

"A new set of circumstances with his health could make people feel differently about him today than they did yesterday."

Davey Moore

Co-owner of Midday Records and guitarist for Satellites Fall, Moore is making a major impact on the New England music scene. While he's been part of the Midday label since 2008, Moore has been taking it to another level, putting out a series compilation albums featuring some of the best bands in the area titled New England Indie Alt Rock, as well as a digital compilation with 80 bands titled Onefundboston.org: A Benefit For The Boston Marathon".

Kate Brierley

Brierley is a rising fashion designer who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and resisted the lure of the Big Apple to open her flagship store in Newport.

"I just wanted to do something fresh," Brierley told GoLocal in July. "I love how much the community in Newport appreciates what we do and our windows. It is a rewarding connection to a community."

Matt Jennings

12 to Watch in 2012...Best Brunch in Providence in 2013...multiple nods for the James Beard Award...Farmstead's Matt Jennings is not one to rest on his laurels atop the always competitive Providence and RI culinary scenes.

With a loyal Twitter base nearing 10,000 followers, Jennings—known as "Providence's Pied Piper of Cheese" and "Prince of Pork"—continues to advance the culture and excellence that landed Providence atop Travel + Leisure's list for Food/Drink/Restaurants—the #1 city in the country—in 2012.

EpiVax

Providence-­based biotech EpiVax, Inc., is an immunology company that has "developed comprehensive analytical capabilities in the field of computational immunology" and applies those tools to re-engineer therapeutic proteins and to design new vaccines. The company continues to forge ahead as a groundbreaking health science company in the state. Basically, as stated on their website, they "do it all."

Andy Posner

Microfinance proponent and co-founder of the Capital Good Fund, Posner is working to be the "best best financial empowerment organization in America by providing high-quality, innovative and transformational financial services to underserved families."

In October, the National Consumer Law Center gave Rhode Island a "C" for debt protection laws for consumers in the state. Posner told GoLocal that "One of the biggest problems is that we are the only New England state that allows payday lenders to charge more than 36% APR. In fact, in RI they can charge up to 260% APR thanks to a special carve out in the general laws. These loans target the poor and trap them in a cycle of debt that leads to tremendous stress and a significant drain on their finances."

Teespring

This Betaspring darling and Walker Williams brainchild is set to revolutionize the way that custom-designed tee-shirts are produced. The company allows customers to design a style, set a sales goal, and pre-order the product, cutting out the need for a middle man.

"No paying thousands of dollars upfront, no guessing how many shirts or what sizes you'll need, and no passing out t-shirts one by one and chasing people down for cash," writes Teespring on their website. And folks are taking note—Forbes contributor Alexander Taub wrote in January of Teepsring, "Is this Rhode Based startup the future of custom apparel?"

Patti Doyle

This consummate public relations professional struck out on her own in 2013 after years at RDW Group with Patti Doyle Communications, and shows no sign of slowing down.

Doyle's clients include Twin River Casino, which officially launched its table game offerings after a successful 2012 referendum. The gaming licensing process has been slow and deliberate in Massachusetts, which in 2011 approved legislation to allow up to 3 casinos and a slots parlor, promising stiff competition to Twin River once those are up and operational. Once the fight is on, watch for Doyle to be spearheading the communications strategy from Rhode Island's third-largest source of revenue.

Anna Cano-Morales

A 2013 RI YWCA "Woman of Achievement," Cano-Morales is no stranger to accolades for her work in the community. The Central Falls native is the Director of the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University and is Chair of the Central Falls School District Board of Trustees.

Cano-Morales was no stranger to GoLocal's Hot or Not lists this year, earning multiple "hot" nods for her work, including LPI reports focusing on the state's latino workforce. And Cano-Morales is forward thinking when it comes to educational opportunities, and talked with GoLocal about the biggest challenges she saw facing Rhode Island.

Jeff Britt

While much of the 2014 gubernatorial campaign season will be played out in public view, one of the most influential political power brokers will continue to operate behind the scenes, having a major role in the outcome of the election of the state's next governor.

Deepwater Wind

Which way will the wind blow in 2014 for the Deepwater Wind project?

2013 saw Deepwater Wind win key leases in the first round of federal auctions in August for offshore wind projects, taking the bids at just over $3.8 million. In December, the state properties committee approved agreements to allow for an underwater transmission cable to go through Scarborough State Beach, to allow Deepwater to build a "demonstration" wind farm off of Block Island.

Edith Ajello

In 2012, the legalization of same-sex marriage was the top social and legal issue addressed and approved by the General Assembly. Will the full-scale legalization of marijuana be on the table in 2014? Expect to see State Rep. Edith Ajello front and center in the debate if so.

While medical marijuana and the decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of it have moved through the General Assembly, the question is whether Rhode Island will follow Colorado and Washington's lead and pass full-scale legalization legislation.

Buddy Cianci

Will he, or won't he?

One of the burning questions for 2014 is whether the former two-time Mayor of Providence will toss his hat in the ring for a third go at the office.

GoLocal posed the questions back in September, asking political experts and pundits their thoughts on the matter. Of the longest-serving Mayor of Providence, who was in office from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 2002, Darrell West of the Brookings Institute and formerly of Brown's Taubman Center for Public Policy said, "There would be tremendous media and public interest if Cianci ran. It would turn this into a high-profile campaign. It is not clear what will be the deciding factor. It would be very different if Cianci is in the race or not."

Clay Pell

Pell, who's resume includes being a White House staffer and Coast Guard Reserve Officer, married Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan in a ceremony at First Unitarian Church in Providence in 2013, and was appointed by President Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education in April.